Sport

Bennett won't take step backwards

LAWRENCE Bennett says he will not take a step backwards as he waits to discover if he will get his shot at the British cruiserweight title.

The 31-year-old won an eliminator for the Lonsdale belt last month in just his seventh fight, with a split decision points win over Chris Keane, and now he is waiting to discover what champion Ovill McKenzie’s next move will be.

However, the Derby-based 34-year-old, who also holds Commonwealth crown, is hoping to seal a world title shot for his next outing, but the Upsetter’s chances are diminishing.

After adding the British title his collection, the Jamaican-born fighter put WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck in his sights.

Yet the German-based Serb will defend his crown for a 13th time against undefeated Italian Mirko Larghetti at the end of August.

Without a ranking in the top 15 of any of the four major governing bodies - IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO - McKenzie’s hope of world honours is likely to be put on hold for the time being.

But that isn’t helping Swindon’s Bad Boy, as he looks to plot his next move of a career that is gathering pace rapidly.

“At the moment there isn’t a lot going on,” Bennett said. “I’m waiting to see what Ovill is going to do - I know he is looking at trying to get a world title shot.

“But I’ve done my part on winning a British title eliminator and now I’m just waiting to see what happens next.

“Ovill has got 90 days after winning the belt (he won it on June 7) to say what he is going to do and then he’s got 90 days after that to defend it.

“I’ve also got to wait to see what the (British Boxing) Board (Of Control) order - it is all politics.”

Bennett admits that he could defend his Southern Area title, the belt he won in his sixth fight back in March, although he wants to keep striding forward.

“I’ve got the Southern Area belt and their could be an option to defend that next if I don’t get a British title shot,” he said. “There is also the English title out there, one thing I don’t want to do is take a step back. I know that I’ve got into this position faster than anyone expected, but I just want to keep moving forward.”